Category Archives: Blog

Colourful Radio

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When Henryy Bonsu (Colourful Radio) said, on air, that I had something about me of the Helen Mirren – I could have kissed him. I tried, thereafter, to intimate that we were probably twins separated at birth………..

Henry’s assertion was based on my Russian ancestry as we were talking identity issues and I was saying that we all have multiple identities. Take me – I’m partly of Russian descent, single mother, ex-designer, current politician, short – from Haringey, Hornsey & Wood Green, Highgate, London, England, Britain and Europe – and I could use any of those to identify me. Apparently Ms Mirren has Russian blood too.

Colourful Radio were doing a half hour interview between me and three of them – Henry Bonsu, Juju and Toby Kell-Ogg. It was fun – and it wasn’t the usual formal, sound-bite interview – it was (I thought) a lively discussion ranging over MPs’ expenses (but in a debate way – not an all MPs are scum of the earth way), about equalities and the appalling differential in pay which is at its greatest disparity when we compare white men with ethnic minority women.

I was able to give an airing to our LibDem policy on ‘no name employment’ (where applicants use something like their National Insurance number rather than their name on job applications to remove subliminal discard at first sift). 

We discussed education – and Toby thought my parents had paid for my education – so set him straight – as ironically my mother really didn’t believe in education, would never have dreamed of paying for it and would have had me working in her shop from the age of fifteen if she could. It was my Headmistress, Ruby Jobson at Highgate Primary, who called my  mother in to school and told her that she had to allow me to sit for a scholarship for South Hampstead High School. In those days one third of the girls were on scholarships. Nowadays I believe it is mostly private – but I may be wrong.

First time I’ve been to Colourful – fantastic to have a proper conversation – so hope they invite me back some day.

MPs return to Westminster

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Well – it’s back to Westminster today. We have company in the form of lots of protesters still on the roof of Westminster Hall. When I see protesters on the roof of Parliament – as was on the news today – I watch with amazement at the ropes and ladders and volume of people scaling the walls – wondering how they can possibly do all that with so many police around.  Each time there is a breach of security like this – you kind of think it can’t happen again – and then it does. Perhaps its because the government stopped protests from taking place outside of Parliament – that protesters now feel they have to protest in Parliament.

And then there’s the letters we are all going to receive from the auditor – what will that herald? I watched Gordon Brown on GMTV say that each MP would have the opportunity to question any demands answer any queries and then pay any outstanding demands. I hope it’s that simple – but if it is true that some of the requests are a retrospective change of rules – I can’t imagine this won’t be another source of major column inches and more disrepute for the body politic.

However, my hope is that we can also concentrate on the issues of the day and the business of Parliament. I believe Gordon Brown is going to be making a statement on Afghanistan this week – and it is important that he define our mission more clearly than has been the case to date. I can only assume with Hilary Clinton in town yesterday to shore up the Government position on  Afghanistan that the statement will be a continuation of our presence there.

Today’s business is the next stages of the Health Bill. The bone of contention here is around a proposed ban on displaying tobacco. So – if you go into your corner shop for example – that wall of cigarettes behind the counter would have to disappear and such sales items kept out of sight. Whilst I supported the smoking ban – I have to say that I think this is daft. Firstly, hiding cigarettes is not the way to reduce sales. Secondly, it will probably make them more ‘exciting’ if they somehow gain an aura of secrecy about their purchase. Thirdly – at this critical time in the recession – I doubt whether it would be an expense that such corner shops could tolerate financially at this point in time. Conversely – I am against cigarette vending machines in public places where those under 16 evidence shows are purchasing their cigarettes so would support those disappearing.

And then, of course, I am hoping that there will be an early debate / statement on the economic crisis, what the government plans are for repaying the deficit and the timing thereof .

Off we go………

Nick Clegg came to dinner

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You lot certainly have a good sense of humour. Yesterday morning I ‘tweeted’ that I was frantically tidying up the house ‘because Nick Clegg was coming in the evening to be my Guest of Honour at my annual Backers’ Dinner. What to do with the dog……?’

And your suggestions were:

– slow-roast it
– don’t have a dog’s dinner
– sit him next to Nick of course!
– Speak to him nicely. The dog of course…..
– Dog-sitting available
– 1 1/2 hours gas mark 5, pop a few onions and potatoes around and serve with gravy

Thanks for that. The dog tasted great!

It was, if I say so myself, one of the best Backers’ Dinners ever. Nick was on top form and extremely feisty –which is just as well as my ‘backers’ are an argumentative lot and not ones to hold back.

Needless to say, have since spent today frantically tidying up and cleaning again! Obviously I would have taken the dog for a walk but…………..

The postman never rings twice

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The Telegraph has been doing some good work for all those people who find one of those ‘sorry you were out when I tried to delivery your letter/parcel’ but who were actually in!

Is it the case that we are all deaf – which is the line most commonly used to explain why a card was left – or are lots of postmen and women terminally lazy?

Maybe there’s another explanation. Maybe the time assessment for parcel or signed for delivery is not right. I have no idea – but it seems to me that the powers that be need to look into this sharpish as the number of incidents is beyond a rogue postie.

I have to say whenever I go to my local sorting offices – which I do generally at Christmas – the people I meet are hard-working and very good natured. So – that doesn’t add up to a workforce that doesn’t bother taking parcels out but would rather stuff a card through the door without ringing.

A recent local case of card through door while local resident was in which I brought to the attention of my local sorting office was met with a postive response about talking to the staff and providing extra training. But the volume of people contacting the Telegraph and the number of people I heard on a phone-in radio show with real examples of confronting the postie having seen the card come through the door is too many for it just to be training.

And I would have thought that basic training would be pretty simple. If you have a parcel, take it to the door and ring. If no one comes – well – surely the postman always rings twice? Hey – now there’s a good idea!

Sharon Shoesmith's day in court

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So Sharon Shoesmith is having her day in court. That’s her right. But none of the furore in the media, in my view, is responsible for her sacking. The media fire storm was undoubtedly a dreadful thing to go through – but my understanding is that it was her attitude in the press conference Haringey Council held after the trial verdict that brought the media down on her like a ton of bricks. She did that to herself.

The apparent arrogance of saying that Haringey was wonderful, and showing the media charts to point out how brilliant her department was, said everything you need to know about Labour Haringey. In fact, Clare Kober the new Labour Leader, is quoted in the Daily Mail as saying “I have the utmost respect for you (Sharon Shoesmith) as a public servant … I have every confidence that you are the individual to get us where we need to be” demonstrates the sort of poor judgement she and Labour have.

And it is a judgement based on a long history of blag it out, say the moon is the sun, and get out of trouble that way. It is precisely that sort of attitude that leads to the situation where a baby can die even with sixty visits from Social Services because Haringey always rejects criticism, is arrogant and refuses to listen when people try to warn them of problems or trouble. That is the part that worries me the most – because the culture at Haringey is one of cover-up, rank-closing and refusal to accept or deal with problems.

No wonder Haringey supported Sharon Shoesmith at first – regardless of the facts. They had paid a fortune to media trainers to prepare her and others to face the post-trial storm (money they should ask for back). It was all about protecting Haringey’s reputation regardless of the real underlying situation.

That is why Victoria Climbie died and that is why Baby Peter died.

At least this time, unlike with Victoria Climbie, there has been a clear out of those in charge of Children’s Services and I hope that the new Director and new managers will ring the changes and turn the department around – no easy task.

So – back to Sharon and why Ed Balls was 100% right to sack her – regardless of the media and regardless of David Cameron and my contributions at the now famous Prime Minister’s Questions.

After Victoria Climbie died and Lord Laming’s public inquiry made its recommendations – one of the key problems Laming identified was that the leadership was weak and at fault – but took no blame in the consequences. Only Lisa Arthurworry, the social worker at the end of the food chain took the blame. George Meehan (Labour Leader at that time), Gina Adamou (Chair of Social Services at that time) and Mary Richardson (Director of Social Services) all suffered not one bit as a result. The two Labour politicians stayed in post and Mary Richardson subsequently moved to Hackney to be Director there.

The Director of Children’s Services this time with Baby Peter was Sharon Shoesmith. In law, she is accountable and responsible for the litany of failures that went on under her stewardship. She should without doubt have instantly resigned. That – not only would have been the right thing to do – but would also have spared her some of the media fire that followed her dreadful performance at the press conference and beyond.

The investigations that followed Baby Peter’s death all show a litany of casualness and failures by individuals and agencies. The substance of the failures and being the person in the accountable and responsible position in law is why she went.

As Ms Shoesmith refused to do the honourable thing, Ed Balls, therefore, had no choice but to sack her. He understood what had happened – and that if she remained in post despite the law that placed her in the accountable position and despite the terrible things that had occurred under her supervision – then Victoria, Peter, all Lord Laming’s work and the safety of children at risk in future would all be for nought.

How to look good naked

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Screenshot from How To Look Good NakedI have joined forces with Gok Wan and How to Look Good Naked. They contacted me before the summer recess to see if I would help with their campaign to give young people ‘body confidence’. Obviously this fitted in brilliantly with our Liberal Democrat campaign for Real Women.

We Liberal Democrats are campaigning for advertisers to have to label adverts to let readers know if and how much the photography in it has been retouched. With rocketing numbers of ever younger girls with eating disorders – we have said enough is enough. We are also campaigning for the lessons in school to contain issues like body confidence – so it obviously fitted in perfectly with what the campaigning program ‘How to look good naked’ is also doing to make women feel happy in their own skin. They have a young champion, Shona, who has a six minute slot in each program in which she takes her campaign forward particulary targeted on young women and their body image.

When I originally went into my office and one of my staff said that How to Look Good Naked had phoned – I was a bit concerned as to whether I would have to bare all for the campaign. Luckily for both you and me – this wasn’t necessary! According to the program – they approached all three parties but only the Liberal Democrats responded positively.

So – whilst I have explained to the program that campaigning and Parliamentary procedures are long-winded and demand perseverance that doesn’t fit neatly with the demands of TV – we are going to be pursuing the issue through both the program and through Parliamentary means too.

In terms of the program I have advised them to start with a No. 10 petition (as they need to garner support across the poltical spectrum and more importantly have a mandate from the people) and to encourage through the very popular program enough people to write to their own local MP – lobbying them to get involved and support the campaign.

Thank goodness I didn’t have to remove a stitch!

You can (for the moment) still catch the program online. I’m just over 30 minutes in.

Come on Girlguiding UK

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I was just listening to the radio – Nick Ferrari – to be precise. Bridget Stevenson, Brown Owl leader in Hammersmith to 24 brownies is being forced to retire (after 20 years) having reached Girlguiding UK’s mandatory retirement age of 65.

Given that Girlguiding UK says this policy is under review – and having listened to Bridget (who skis, plays tennis and is much loved by the girls) surely this is an opportunity for Girlguiding UK to use common sense and suspend their policy pending the outcome of that review.

It is so hard to find enough good people to volunteer for guides, brownies, scouts, cubs whatever – when you have someone this good and this popular – and the threat of closure of the group if another leader can’t be found – surely this is a time for Girlguiding UK to lead by example and banish ageism.

The 'Big Canvass' comes to Woodside

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Out on the 'Big Canvas' in WoodsideIt is quite something when we go out en mass – us Liberal Democrats. In recent months, we have adopted a new style for canvassing where we all get together in one particular area every couple of weeks. It makes it fun. The response is very warm on the doorsteps too. Cllr Lyn Weber (who organises these events) is doing a fantastic job – and may I say – it is the best organised anything I have ever been involved in – so huge thanks to Lyn.

Subscribing to feeds from my site

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As part of the relaunch of this site, I’ve changed round a bit the RSS (news) feeds which people can subscribe to. There are now two main feeds:

  • Blog – just includes the blog posts
  • All content – includes other content, such as news releases

If you are subscribed and don’t know to which one it is – chances are it is the blog posts only. Now that you can also get the news releases in together, it may be a good time to switch!

It being WordPress, you can create a myriad of other feed combinations easily by typing in the right web address – so if you know how to do this and want a special combination feel free to do so, and if you’re not so geeky – do just ask!

Ed Balls and Arsene Wenger come to Treehouse

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Arsene Wenger, Lynne Featherstone and Ed Balls at TreehouseIt may have been raining – but the sun was shining in every one’s heart – for the opening of the splendid new building for Treehouse. Treehouse is the wonderful charity that set up an exemplar school for autistic children in Muswell Hill.

It is the most wonderful, spectacular building – with the most wonderful and spectacular people involved in its teachings, its running and its work right across the country to advance the cause and understanding of autism. Brilliantly – this super-school only takes children who are state funded – so that all autistic children can come here. Getting local authorities to fund individual children, however, is still the main battle. But once they are here – these children and their parents join a family whose support and care is unparallelled.

Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Education, came to do the honours – and gave a really great speech. He seemed to have a real understanding of the needs of children with autism – and their parents. We heard too, from Arsene Wenger, (yes – Arsenal Arsene) who last year made Treehouse Arsenal’s Charity of the Year and donated huge amounts to it. Trevor Pears of the Pears Foundation also spoke – and it was interesting to hear him thank Treehouse. It must be rewarding to be a key donor to something as wonderful as Treehouse – which was the point he made. And then, very , we heard poignantly from Claire Coombe-Tennant, a parent and a Trustee whose youngest son (of four sons) is at Treehouse. That was the clincher speech – to recognise the anguish, agony and exhaustion of the parents of an autistic child – and what Treehouse means in terms of relief, reassurance, rescue, hope and love to those families.

And yes – I had a word too. I simply spoke about the way Treehouse has become part of the Muswell Hill community – reaching out with the children going to three local schools each week to mix with other children and once a week the children from Muswell Hill Primary School come in and play with the children at Treehouse. The benefit to both sets of children is wonderful – and says we are all members of society and the more we know and understand and include each other the better our world.

We had all brought gifts to put in a time capsule – and two of the Treehouse children, Kaiser and Bilal, came onto the stage with their gifts too.

All in all – a terrific celebration of what can be done with passion and commitment. Congratulations to all at Treehouse.